The transition from one artistic director to another is a time of change, especially for dancers, who often must adapt to a new style almost as quickly as they learn their next roles. Sometimes audiences feel a strain, too. In 2003, when Houston Ballet Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson stepped down and Stanton Welch, former […]
Forget the dinky rubber snake prop that “bites” Nikiya in traditional productions of La Bayadère: Stanton Welch’s re-imagination of the classic ballet, which Houston Ballet will premiere this February, features not one but five varieties of live (non-venomous) snakes! “Snakes are so provocative and full of innuendo,” says Welch of his unorthodox choice. Splashy […]
Sir Paul at the Ballet Meeting Paul McCartney—that’s a tale worth telling. But meeting the Beatles star while half-dressed in an unfinished ballet costume by McCartney’s designer daughter, Stella? That’s a tale only New York City Ballet principal Robert Fairchild can tell. Fairchild is one of the stars of Ocean’s Kingdom, a new ballet premiering […]
Millepied Premieres L.A. Dance Project The former NYCB principal takes his next step. Black Swan choreographer and former New York City Ballet principal Benjamin Millepied will raise the profile of Los Angeles dance this September, when his L.A. Dance Project debuts at the city’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. The program, commissioned by L.A.’s Music Center, […]
This interview originally appeared in the October 16 Pointe e-newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter, click here. This month, the Joffrey Ballet presents Stanton Welch’s production of La Bayadère for the first time. Pointe‘s e-news spoke with 22-year-old Jeraldine Mendoza, who will make her debut as Nikiya this Saturday, about learning the ballet. When […]
If you’re in the Houston area next week, make sure you put this event on your calendar: May 9–11 at 8 pm, Houston Ballet will give three free performances at the Miller Outdoor Theatre. Two Stanton Welch works are on the program, Play and Sons de L’ame (Sounds of the Soul), as well as the […]
A year ago, Derek Dunn was one of Houston Ballet’s brightest young talents (oh, and he was also gracing Pointe‘s cover). So some were surprised when he announced that he’d be joining Boston Ballet as a soloist this season. We caught up with Dunn as he prepares for two season-opening premieres November 3–12, to see […]